|
Jacket Baseball Picked 4th in Preseason
(1/28/07)
BILLINGS, MT – University of
the Incarnate Word, who have won the Heartland Conference
championship the previous two seasons, have been picked to once
again repeat as Heartland Conference champion in 2007. The
Cardinals have been chosen by the conference’s head baseball
coaches and sports information directors.
In the second season since its
reintroduction, the Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets were
picked to finish fourth out of the six-team conference. Last
season the Jackets were picked to finish last in the conference
and after a rocky debut, they came on strong to finish fifth
with a 15-35 overall record. MSUB opens their 2007 season on
February 16 on the road against Incarnate Word. The opener
marks the beginning of a 30-game stretch on the road. On March
30, the Jackets will finally play their first home game of the
season against Oklahoma Panhandle State.
Finishing 38-21 overall last
year and 30-10 in the Heartland Conference, Incarnate Word edged
out St. Mary’s in a tight race in a tight race for the
conference championship. Ending the season just a single game
ahead of St. Edward’s and two in front of St. Mary’s, the
Cardinals earned a trip to the NCAA South Central Regional where
they nearly upset Regional Champion Montevallo 9-8. The winner
of the Heartland Conference will receive an automatic berth to
the NCAA Tourney.
St. Mary’s was picked just
behind Incarnate Word despite the fact that the Rattlers are
ranked No. 24 in the nation by CBN. The Rattlers are the only
Heartland Conference team to appear in the poll.
2007 Heartland Conference
Preseason Poll (Points)
1. Incarnate Word (16)
2. St. Mary’s (17)
3. St. Edward’s (20)
4. Montana State-Billings (31)
5. Lincoln (40)
6. Oklahoma Panhandle State (44) |
